Courtney Thomas*, a 30-year-old patient, is 6 weeks pregnant with occasional mild lower abdominal pain and vaginal spotting. While in the outpatient lab, she experiences a diaphoretic episode and can’t void. She arrives in the ED several hours later with increased lower abdominal pain (2/10 when lying flat but 5/10 with movement) and nausea. The ED nurse takes her vital signs: temperature 98.2° F (36.7° C), HR 92 bpm, RR 20 breaths per minute, BP 118/70 mmHg. Ms. Thomas is transferred to the OB/GYN unit for observation while waiting for the lab results and for a transvaginal ultrasound.
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